Extending the Effective Lifetimes of Earth Observing Research Missions (SSB)

Released 11/15/05

While NASA Earth Science missions are planned on the basis of a specified lifetime, often they are able to function beyond the end of that period. Until recently NASA had no formal mechanism for determining whether those missions should be extended or whether the resources necessary for the extension should be applied to new missions. In August 2004, when NASA merged Earth and space sciences, the agency began using the Science Review process to make those extension determinations. NASA had asked the NRC to assess extension review processes, and after the merger, this study focused on the Science Review process. This report presents an assessment of that process and provides recommendations for adapting it to Earth Science missions.

Interim Design Assessment for the Blue Grass Chemical Agent Destruction Pilot Plant (BAST)

Released 11/14/05

Because of concerns about incineration, the Department of Defense plans to use alternative means to destroy the chemical agent stockpiles at the Pueblo and Blue Grass facilities. The DOD contracted with Bechtel Parsons to design and operate pilot plants for this purpose. As part of the NRC efforts to assist the DOD with its chemical demilitarization efforts, the Department requested a review and assessment of the Bechtel designs for both plants. An earlier report presented an assessment of the Pueblo design. This report provides a review of the Blue Grass Chemical Agent Destruction Pilot Plant based on review of data and information about the initial design and some intermediate design data. Among other topics, the report presents technical risk assessment issues, an analysis of delivery and disassembly operations and of agent destruction core processes, and an examination of waste treatment.

Monitoring at Chemical Agent Disposal Facilities (BAST)

08/29/05

Under the direction of the U.S. Army’s Chemical Materials Agency (CMA) and mandated by Congress, the nation is destroying its chemical weapons stockpile. Over the past several years, the Army has requested several studies from the NRC to assist with the stockpile destruction. This study was requested to advise the CMA about the status of analytical instrumentation technology and systems suitable for monitoring airborne chemical warfare agents at chemical weapons disposal and storage facilities. The report presents an assessment of current monitoring systems used for airborne agent detection at CMA facilities and of the applicability and availability of innovative new technologies. It also provides a review of how new regulatory requirements would affect the CMA’s current agent monitoring procedures, and whether new measurement technologies are available and could be effectively incorporated into the CMA’s overall chemical agent monitoring strategies.

Review and Assessment of the Bechtel National, Inc.-Parsons Infrastructure and Technology Group, Inc., Joint Venture Proposal for the Design and Operation of the Blue Grass Chemical Agent Destruction Pilot Plant at Richmond, KY (BAST)

The DOD has contracted with Bechtel National, Inc.-Parsons Infrastructure and Technology Group, Inc. to design and operate a pilot plant for the destruction of chemical agent at the Blue Grass chemical weapons storage facilities. As part of the NRC efforts to assist the DOD with its chemical demilitarization efforts, the Department requested a review and assessment of the Bechtel-Parsons proposal. This letter report presents the review of the proposal for the Blue Grass Chemical Agent Destruction Pilot Plant (BGCAPP). It also presents an assessment of alternative configurations developed by the study committee. Several factors, including technical feasibility, public acceptance, equipment availability, and safety, were used to evaluate the life-cycle cost and schedule implications of the alternatives for the BGCAPP. These assessments are primarily the result of the consensus judgments of the committee based in the substantial project management experience of its members.

Impact of Revised Airborne Exposure Limits on Non-Stockpile Chemical Material Program Activities (BAST)

The U.S. Army’s Non-Stockpile Chemical Materiel program is responsible for dismantling former chemical agent production facilities and destroying recovered chemical materiel. In response to congressional requirements, the Center for Disease Control (CDC), in 2003, recommended new airborne exposure limits (AELs) to protect workforce and public health during operations to destroy this materiel. To assist in meeting these recommended limits, the U.S. Army asked the NRC for a review of its implementation plans for destruction of production facilities at the Newport Chemical Depot and the operation of two types of mobile destruction systems. This report presents the results of that review. It provides recommendations on analytical methods, on airborne containment monitoring, on operational procedures, on the applicability of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, and on involvement of workers and the public in implementation of the new AELs.

Earth Science and Applications from Space: Urgent Needs and Opportunities to Serve the Nation (SSB)

The Earth is a dynamic planet whose changes and variations affect our communications, energy, health, food, housing, and transportation infrastructure. Understanding these changes requires a range of observations acquired from a variety of land-, sea-, air-, and space-based platforms. To assist NASA, NOAA, and the USGS develop these tools, the NRC was asked by these agencies to carry out a decadal strategy survey of Earth science and applications from space In particular, the study is to develop the key scientific questions on which to focus Earth and environmental observations in the period 2005-2015, and a prioritized list of space programs, missions, and supporting activities to address these questions This interim report outlines a key element of the study—the rationale for tying Earth observations to societal need—and identifies urgent near-term actions needed to achieve this goal. A final report, due in late 2006, will provide the list of recommended space missions, programs, and supporting.

Report Summary

Review and Assessment of the Bechtel National, Inc. Proposal for the Design and Operation of the Chemical Agent Destruction Pilot Plant at Pueblo, CO (BAST)

The DOD has contracted with Bechtel National, Inc. to design and operate pilot plants for the destruction of chemical agent at both the Pueblo and Blue Grass chemical weapons storage facilities. As part of the NRC efforts to assist the DOD with its chemical demilitarization efforts, the Department requested a review and assessment of the Bechtel proposals for both plants. This letter report presents the review of the proposal for the Pueblo Chemical Agent Destruction Pilot Plant (PCAPP). This letter report presents that assessment along with one of an alternative design suggested by Mitretek and of the desirability of technically viable alternatives developed by the NRC study committee. These assessments are primarily the result of the consensus judgments of the committee based in the substantial project management experience of its members. A second letter report will be issued on the Blue Grass Chemical Agent Destruction Pilot Plant design.